Clippers’ Steve Ballmer speaks out following massive NBA ban
The owner took responsibility and apologized for the Kawhi Leonard scandal in a lengthy social media post.
On September 13, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made his first public remarks regarding the NBA's one-year ban following a scandal involving the franchise and its star player Kwasi Leonard. In a Twitter/X post, Ballmer accepted responsibility for his role in the league's report, which alleged that the Clippers and Leonard attempted to circumvent the NBA's salary cap rules.
"This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets," Ballmer stated. "I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner."
Following the NBA's announcement on September 2, Ballmer faced a suspension from all league and team activities for a year. The ban stemmed from his alleged knowledge of helping Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, approving a business deal that was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Leonard, and failing to ensure his organization complied with the NBA's circumvention rules.
The decision came one year to the day after Pablo Torre's report linked Leonard to a fraudulent $28 million endorsement deal with fintech company Aspiration.
In his post, Ballmer emphasized the commitment to moving past the chapter, expressing that the team had communicated their compliance with the league's penalties, payment of the fine, and moving forward. Despite some disagreements concerning the findings in the report, Ballmer urged team owners to support rather than distract. He acknowledged the significant challenges ahead and the resolve of the organization, vowing to continue building the team and investing in the community.
Ballmer expressed his priority on maintaining fan confidence, confident that with their talented roster, outstanding staff, and clear vision, the Clippers would compete at the highest level and earn the pride of their fans.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
